Pitchforks down everyone. I’m not openly advocating for Baltimore to trade away the fans’ favorite right fielder since Nick Markakis. I’m a huge Santander guy; I really hope the guy stays here for the rest of his career and wins a ring for every finger along the way. That being said, I’ve seen enough of the Mike Elias playbook to understand that a trade isn’t off the table. If the right team in the right situation presents the club with the right return, I fully trust Elias to do the right thing.
Here’s a few teams I think could potentially fit a VERY HYPOTHETICAL trade for Anthony Santander.
Los Angeles Angels
The relationship is obviously there between Baltimore and LA. For now the Angles are content waiting on OF prospect Jo Adell, and have brought in Dexter Fowler to help Justin Upton flank baseball’s best player Mike Trout. If the Halos find themselves positioned to make a run in the west, slow development, injury, or overall just continued lackluster play from Fowler or Upton could make Santander a very plausible solution.
*Potential Return Pieces: Reid Detmers LHP / Livan Soto SS / Jordyn Adams OF / Arol Vera SS
Chicago Cubs
I fully expect the Cubs to go one of two ways this season: all in or all out. If the Cubs find themselves in a hole I can easily see a sell-off scenario in Chicago. But getting bounce-back seasons from their big three and bringing aboard Joc Pederson could easily give them the firepower to compete.
Currently, the aging and erratic Jason Heyward is the projected opening day starter in right field, with contingencies in the form of David Bote and Eric Sogard in place. Santander would be an upgrade over all three. If the Cubs run hot and go all in, everything is on the table.
*Potential Return Pieces: Ed Howard SS / Reginald Preciado SS / Christopher Morel 3B / Kohl Franklin RHP
San Diego Padres
This one would probably require some bad luck with injuries for the Padres. But for a team trying to keep pace with the Dodgers, it could also simply come down to adding as much talent as possible for a deep run into the playoffs. There’s room in the outfield in San Diego should Tommy Pham or Wil Myers falter or are unable to stay healthy. Adding Santander to a lineup with Fernando Tatis, Manny Machado, and Eric Hosmer gives you a chance against a lot of rotations, even one full of Cy Young winners.
*Potential Return Pieces: Justin Lange RHP / Tucupita Marcano INF / Reggie Lawson RHP / Ha-Seong Kim 2B
*not listing a total package return, just some of the names you may see in a potential trade with this team.
